The Videomaster Olympic Home T.V. Game (model VM3-D) came just after the Videomaster Rally and was an improved version of the Videomaster Home T.V. Game MKIII. Compared to the Videomaster Rally, it had only two additional features: the possibility to invert the first player to add a few more games, and an optional "wobble" effect on the second player to increase the difficulty. When enabled, the second player oscillates slightly verticaly. Scores were manual using two metal balls: each player used a group of fifteen moulded holes on the system case to register his score. This game was also released in Sweden (at least, an advertisement exists), and a german manual exists as well (although no german specimen has been found).

Technically, this game is interesting because it has been improved at least two times.
The earliest version known used eleven TTL chips of the 74Cxx series (three 74C00N chips and eight 74C02N chips).
A second version had the eight 74C02N chips replaced by CD4001E chips (their CMOS equivalents), which used less power than the TTL chips, and operate on a wider range of voltages, hence a longer use of the 9V battery. This  change required an additional jumper and two more resistors.
The last improvement was made to the plastic case and the box in 1976. The first version came in a white carton box (originally closed with adhesive tape, as pictured) with black and red text, and the case had a granular plastic without numbers in the ball holes. The second version from 1976 came in a color illustrated box and a mat plastic case with numbers moulded into the ball holes. The three front potentiometers (H, V and Speed) were replaced by horizontal ones with knobs, which allowed finer adjustments.

First box with original adhesive tape mark over the 'D' letter.


Close-up: handle and mark of original adhesive tape closing the box before first use.


Earlier version with granular case and the two metal balls for scoring.


Inside: discrete components (11 chips), all hand assembled. Although the circuit board still
shows the place of the large 9V battery used in the Home T.V. Game MKIII, the normal
9V battery is inserted at the right of the bottom case and keeps in place by pressure.


Second version: nicer case, different ball holes, and three horizontal front knobs.


Left: User Manual. Right: an early Kellog's promotion (click picture for larger view).
Kellog's picture courtesy of Adrian Scheel.


The system could play six games (more by moving the hole like in Wall Game).
Click picture for larger view.

Sometimes around 1976, Videomaster Olympic had some success in Australia, where it has been copied and renamed Videolympic. As can be seen on the pictures, the plastic case kept the granularity of the original but was intelligently modified. It was made more shiny, and illustrations replaced the scoring holes (it is believed that few people really used the metal balls for scoring). The three switches were also mounted on the circuit board,  which was consequently slightly enlarged, thus reducing the number of wires. The battery compartment can also be seen on one picture and is same as the original (the battery is quite hard to insert, but will hardly come off the case).

Videolympic pictures courtesy of Adrian Scheel.
Click the pictures to view them in original size.